[Project Complete] Pixel Art Games Template - 250$

[Loover]

(Admin code added by Michael - HL976930N)


Hello!

I'm new to Design Outpost but I have been seeing your great works since some time ago.

I'm looking for a template for a shareware games web I'm developing. I have the logo and quite all the buttons for the web, I just need the template in a html + CSS style form, ready for upload to the host :)

The good new is that I have already all the buttons and logo, then your work will be quite quick.

Website Name: Pixel Art Games
URL: http://www.pixelartgames.com/
Buttons and Logo: http://www.pixelartgames.com/Pixel%20Art%20Games.zip

Overview: The web will be a portal of shareware games. Quite similar to http://www.alawar.com. Games for download, each one with a demo version, and several games genres for choosing.

Language: english

Intended audience: All, like if it was a disney film.

Color psychology: Look at the zip, you have already all the buttons and logo, with the colors I want. Are 4: red, orange, blue and green. You are free for change them as you need.

Dynamic elements: With the zip there are a lot of sprite animations, dont know if will be necesary, but you can use them.

Sites I like:

http://www.alawar.com/

http://puppygames.net/
http://www.bigfishgames.com/
http://www.dexterity.com/
http://hipsoft.com
http://retro64.com

Format: Id like 2 different pages:

1) Home
Look at the great http://www.alawar.com template. I'm in love with it. I want something similar. In the zip there is a picture called "all.png". In this picture you will see the structure of the future template. I want something like this:
'Cut' the template in 3 columns:
Left: Navigation (Main, Pc Game Genres, Mobile Games, Support, Subscribe, Quad Banner. (you can use the buttons of the zip)
Middle: Tittle of the web (you can use the tiytle of the zip), Banner for other webs, Bigger Animated banner games of pixelartgames, Top Game, More games.
Right: Top 10 games, Latest News, New Games

2) One of the Games Genres subcategorys
Something like: http://www.alawar.com/games/arcade.php
Left: the same that in home web
Middle: quite similar. Appart of the tittle, and a banner (not the bigger one here), two top games, and the rest of the games.
Right: Top Game of this Genre and Top 10 Games

Feel free for change this structure if needed. Dont want it to be really really similar that the one of Alawar, every web has to be unique :)


Notes:

1) I'm looking for the site in HTML form. Please use CSS for styles.

2) Use any picture and text you want for the games.

3) Sorry for my bad english, I'm from Spain and I have to improve my skills in this language. Please, ask me any question you have if there is something not enough clear in this project.

Deadline: February 22th

Thanks!

http://www.pixelartgames.com/FinalLogo.gif

[Loover]

The buttons of the zip are like this (but you can change then if necesary):
http://www.pixelartgames.com/buttons.png

[Loover]

I changed some buttons. I've uploaded the new zip with them.

The new buttons are the 'Mobile Games' separated from 'Games Genres', that now is called 'Pc Games Genres'.

[Loover]

New changes in the buttons. Added "Plataform" inside "Pc Games".

Nobody is interested in working in this template yet? :blush:

[pickadesign]

Hi,

Just letting you know you'll get plenty of entries, no worries. I think most designers are working on the templates that have deadlines that are much sooner. Since your deadline is near the end of February, and a few of the templates on here right now are ending within a few days, those ones were taking priority. You'll see some entires being posted for your contest pretty soon once your deadline draws nearer and the other projects with earlier deadlines fade away into completion :)

[Loover]

Thanks pickadesign for the explanation, this give me time for improve the buttons and for having new ideas. I hope to see you soon in the contest ;)

[Loover]

Some small changes in the buttons.

Come on designers! Go for it :D

[Loover]

Hi all!

Today is the deadline and there are no entries :(

What should I do? Give more time? Ask for the money back?

Maybe no designer get interested in this work due to something I did wrong, I will be very pleased if you give me some advices.

Thanks!

[dziner]

I am working on an entry. :)

[Loover]

Good! Then I will give more time
New deadline: March 1th

[dziner]

Ok, after I dove in, I wasn't as sure as to what you want. So take a look at this rough draft (http://www.yencreative.com/pixel/1.htm) and see what needs to be done... I haven't done the middle of the page yet, kindof where I got stuck.

Thanks!

[Loover]

Good starting for a rough draft! I like some of the ideas you used and I would like to see it growing.

I like the idea of the trees, but maybe it will be better if they were less blurred (without changing the size) and more narrow.

There are two small errors in the buttons, one in Mobile (mea culpa) and other in Subscribe (think that is a type of corruption of the image).

Like a lot the yellow color of the right.

Yes, good starting! Work on it :)

EDIT:
I dont like too the black color of the back... better clearer colors.

[Loover]

dziner, the week passed and I didnt see any improve in the initial entry. And furthermore no other designers get interested.

Should I ask for my money back?

[Lori]

I will try to do something for you :)
I will start right now since I see your deadline is today..

I will be back....

[pracus]

I'll be here tonight! (CET)

[Lori]

Here is my design :)

[Loover]

Really good entry Lori! At last I begin to believe in design outpost after a month :)

Like a lot your design but there are things that I will like you to change:

1) Only three games is not enought for the main page. In the main page I want to show at least 8 games + "the most downloaded game" and at least 4 sentences for the text of each game.

2) The logo looks well down in the web, but maybe will be better if after it there were a darker color (maybe a circle just in the tree area) or an halo surronding the characters and tree.

3) I dont like the yellow color of the Subscribe section Try with same color of the Support Area.

4) And change the style of the latest news section for be like the one of "top 10 games" and "new games".

5) Put the sentence "© 2005 Pixel Art Games" down in the web.

Good work!

[Lori]

Thanks!

1. You will have the ability to show as many games, and lines as needed once the design is coded --- I did not put lots on here so as to keep the size of the mockup smaller; however, if you NEED to see this, I will take care of it.

2. I am a bit stumped on this one - you mean you would like me to put a colored circle around that portion? Or when you say darker color - do you mean a background color.

3. I will put the newsletter subscription in orange.

4. I will assume that you mean make this area blue - will do.

5. Will add the copy to the bottom.

[Loover]

1) Good! Like this :) But yes, if you can show it with 8 games + the most downloaded please. And a sentence more of text for each one.

2) I'm very bad explaining things with my bad english, sorry. The problem is that the logo looks "strange" with a white background but at the some time I like white color for the rest of the web. Then I thought in putting an "halo" or a "circle" with a darker color (grey? dark red? orange?) surronding the logo. But maybe I will not like it later :P. If you can, try something, if we dont like the result we can go back and let it like it is now.

4) Yes, the blue color, the font of the letters and style, etc.

[Lori]

Here are SOME of the changes - I did not do the ones I had questions on yet.

[Loover]

Perfect changes :)

I answered you questions in the previus post.

[Lori]

Loover,

Here are more changes :)

I was not fond of a "flat" color box/background/circle behind the logo, but did like a "fade" - it resembles the sky, which most certianly fits behind a tree....

With the addition of more games to the template, I added a few other extras that can show you placement options of advertising mediums i.e. Banners, Google and affiliate links.

Let me know of anything else I can do for you :)

[Loover]

You are really quick working!

The fade sky after the tree is perfect :) Really good and quick work. I havent realized that the rock of the groud seems too repeated. Can you put it like the one that is down the tree or it will cost too much bandwith?

About the new banners, better to quit them. Is not that dont fit well with the web (they look perfect) but is only that I dont want to use ads by google or affiliates sites links. I prefer not to have "out-links" in the main web, I dont want possible costumers to go out.

Then is better...

1) ...to reduce the flash skyscraper banner of the left. Reduce it until be a quad. I will use it for different advertisments.

2) Quit "Most downloaded" and "Our Affiliates" too and put the four last games (2 games per line). Then there will be 4 games in the right of "Top 10 games" and "New Games" (like is already) and the other four down.

3) Before "Top Rated Game" put a flash banner with the same dimensions of "Top Rated Game". I will use it to show randow games of the web.

4) Quit "ads by google" of the right.

Good work! Really good!

[Lori]

Loover,

Not too much bandwidth whatsoever --- it is repeated as such in my template because there are five things that I must take off the grass there to make THAT part repeat.. if you have the original PSD or AI file, where those characters/tree are NOT PART OF THE GROUND (meaning they are layers OVER the ground) then I can make that change as quick as 1-2-3.

I will make the skyscraper into four seperate banner spots.

I DID try the four down + four under, and had to reduce the width of the four under -- it looked fine to me, but was not sure how you wanted. I will make that change now.

I will add 468x60 banner space to top of design.

I will loose affiliates, most downloaded, and goooogle :)

Be right back....

[Loover]

Ah sorry! You can get it from here:

http://www.pixelartgames.com/bloq.png

[Lori]

Hi Loover,

Here are my lastest changes:

[Loover]

Great, all is perfect now :)

In the right white part of the web I will put a free flash game that people will be able to play just when they arrive to the web.

Only one question: Will I be able to change the top banner to a bigger size? For example with the same width of "Top Rated Game"

[Lori]

Loover,

Yes, you can put a banner that will fill that whole area - that will cause you no problems :)

[Loover]

Well Lori, as the deathline finished some days ago, and there are no other entrys, and I really like the one you have designed... you are the winner :)

Now for the second page: One of the Games Genres subcategorys.

Is my first time here and I dont know If we have to pass to a private forum now or what.

[Lori]

Thanks for choosing my design - I really had fun making this one - :yes:

I will move us over to the revisions forum, and I will get started on the second page.

:)

[Lori]

Loover,

I am just checking in to let you know that I will be working on the inner page this evening - I did not have much time to work this weekend, and have been a bit under the weather.

:)

[Loover]

Ah good! Can not wait to see the second template, if it is the half of good than the first one it will be great :)

Work well!

[Lori]

Loover,

Here is the inner page template - as refrenced in the brief, there is not much change - just placement of items.

;)

[Loover]

Good!

Only some things:

1) Use bigger font for the name of each game and a special color, not black, that fit well with the rest of color of the web. Maybe the blue color of the buttons of the left. Changes this too in the "home page".
For the "top rated game" of the right, use a bigger screenshot.

2) Put a "See review..." link down of the text of each game and the same for "home page".

3) A question: is "Top 10 games" prepared for allow more than one line per link? I mean, if the game name and genre dont fit in one line will it show correctly in two lines? And the same question for "News".

[Lori]

Here are the changes...

Yes, the links and news will wrap when coded.

[Loover]

Perfect, I will only like the blue text of the games in Bold type font.

Congratulations! Really good work!

You can zip the html templates and graphics and to pass it to me when you want. Was very good to have you like a designer, quick and good work.

[Loover]

Waiting for your answer :)

[Lori]

Hi Loover,

I was away for the weekend, but will start coding the template today. I will probably take me a couple of days to do it; they are pretty heavy graphically :)

[Lori]

Loover,

I am well into the coding of the design, but forgot to ask a very important question of you...

Can you handle a tableless XHTML/CSS coded site?

Thanks!

[Loover]

Do you mean ccs style? Yes of course. I prefer it with ccs style a lot more than plain html. Will be more easy to change small things.

I have the host in www.dreamhost.com

[Lori]

Loover,

Actually, it is a bit more than "css style".

I fully layout and postition in CSS - there are NO tables utilized in designs I do. Therefore, it is a bit more difficult than what you may be used to. Here is a little "how-to" on tableless layout:
http://www.w3.org/2002/03/csslayout-howto

Please let me know if you fully understand what I mean here, and I will finish up, as that is what I have done thusfar. If you NEED tables (though I never recommend this) PLEASE let me know.

Your buttons ALL have to be images due to the way they are - I wish I could get away from that, but you have "icons" set on several of the buttons, so that makes giving the buttonsets a distinct style not feasable.

If the tableless is ok, then I am about 80% done with the coding.

[Loover]

I think I understand the process of "tableless" but I dont know why this can be more difficult for me. Are there some restrictions? Reading in the web you have recommend me I see this way is better, isnt it?

I think that if this will not interfere later in the process of made the web "automatic" by php (I mean for example to show the news and games, etc) you can do it like you wish.

About the buttons, its true, some of them have icons and will have to be images. If you want to try to build the other ones than dont have images in other way you can. But think that there is no problem with the button be images if they load quick enough.

[Loover]

Are you near to finish? :)

I will be out today and friday. And maybe too the weekend. Hope to see the final work for the monday then :) I want to start with the php work as soon as possible.

[Lori]

Loover,

Yes, I am getting there, but this is NOT an easy coding job at all. It is just a very very heavy coded design - and no matter which way it went, tables or tableless, it still would have taken me quite some time on the code.

I promise you, I am working as fast as I can. Thanks so much for your patience :)

[Loover]

Near to finish?

[Loover]

I know that is not an easy job but one month more or less have passed (and other month waiting for someone to start with the web) and I'm a bit worried because I need the template next week.

But I know too that you are doing a good work :)

[Lori]

Loover,

As I mentioned in my PM's to you, I have been working so hard on this template, and it just will NOT work out cross browser. I have it in tables, and it STILL will not work across all browsers.

It is bad design on my part, I should have thought more about it....

I am happy to give you what I have shown you already, but as you know, there are still issues in Internet Explorer that need to be worked on.

[Loover]

Dont worry, take the time you need for it to work in all browsers properly please. This is important.

If you need more time, take it, If I can not have the template next week is not a hard problem. But what I want is a good template that work well in all browsers.

Thanks.

[Lori]

Loover,

I am doing the very very very best I can, as I have mentioned in PM.

There is only the one content area drop on IE, and I am certian it is due to it being a four column layout - this just does not work well in all browsers no matter what you do....

So, as much as I hate it, and am far against the use of tables, that is the only way I can see to fix the problem.

So long as I can work out the minor issues in this table based design, I don't see a problem with giving to you today or tomorrow...

[Loover]

Dont worry! Is not a serious problem to fix it using a table. What I want is the template to work properly in all browsers :)

Tell me when it will be finished and a url for download it when you be ready.

Thanks!

[Loover]

Developing the final details? Warn me when it be finished, please.

[Lori]

Loover,

After MUCH testing, and thanks to a few members of the WSG, I believe I have this page ready...

AND NO TABLES :)

Let me do a final once over, and I will send you the files.

Thanks for your patience... this code will be worth your wait :)

[Michael]

Lori :tup:

[Lori]

Files sent.... believe it or not :)